Clean air zones
Clean air zones
We all know that air pollution is a major environmental health risk. Here’s how we’re tackling it.
As part of our Strategy 2030, we’ve set the ambition to establish clean air and smoke-free zones at each of our three campus locations – Frenchay, Glenside and City Campus.
We’ll protect staff, students and visitors from poor air quality by measuring prevailing conditions and delivering interventions through our Travel plan or via our Carbon and Energy Management plan.
What we’re measuring
We’ll set out the annual average concentrations of, where data is available, three key pollutants on our campuses: Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Particulate Matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 µm (PM10) and PM2.5.
Data quality from the instruments used to collect data vary. All data should be considered indicative or unratified unless stated otherwise. Automatic analysers in use by Bristol City Council and those at Coldharbour Lane are considered the most accurate measurements, with instruments and data calibrated, verified and ratified on an annual basis.
Bower Ashton
While there were no automatic monitoring stations at Bower Ashton, there were two Diffusion Tube monitoring stations nearby. You can see the annual average concentrations at these locations for 2022 below.
Bower Ashton measurements
Footnote
*Measurements are derived from the 2021 Air Quality Annual Status Report.
City Campus
Much of our City Campus lies within Bristol’s Clean Air Zone, which became operational in late 2022. By limited vehicle access into the zone, we expect to see reduced concentrations in and around campus buildings. This will have the net effect of bringing air quality in line with English air quality objectives by 2025.
Arnolfini, Spike Island and Watershed measurements
Footnote
*Measurements are derived from the 2022 Air Quality Annual Status Report.
†Measurements are derived from the Open Data Bristol Air Quality (NO2 diffusion tube) data 2021.
Glenside Campus
With no air quality monitoring data for the Glenside Campus, the nearest monitoring station is located on Fishponds Road near the junction with Alexandra Park (Air Quality Dashboard).
In 2022, the site reported an annual average concentration of 26.5 µg/m³, well below the air quality objective. It’s likely that air quality at, or nearby, the campus will comply with English Air Quality Objectives and EU Limit Values for NO2 and PM10.
Modelling of air pollution undertaken by the Horizon 2020 ClairCity project provides our best estimate of air quality on and in the vicinity of the campus. The modelling study showed that air quality met English Air Quality Objectives for NO2 and PM10.
Frenchay Campus
There are three tiers of air quality monitoring data available for Frenchay Campus. The highest quality data are derived from the automatic monitoring station situated on the A4174 near the junction with Coldharbour Lane.
Two medium tier zephyr air quality monitoring stations are situated on campus, one at the bus station and another at a background location near Wallscourt Farmhouse. Finally, the campus has up to 19 monitoring points using low-cost air quality sensors. These are distributed across the campus and the data presented in the table are an annual average of these data, combined.
The Coldharbour Lane monitoring station does not report concentrations of NO2 or particulate matter above the national objectives.
Comparing background and bus station zephyr monitoring station data show that concentrations of NO2 at the bus station are ~7 µg/m³ above background measured concentrations whilst PM10 concentrations are 1.4 µg/m³ above and PM2.5, 2.5 µg/m³ above.
Frenchay Campus measurements
Footnote
Umbrella campus data are derived from low-cost sensors, and as such these data are solely indicative and are significant outliers with respect to NO2. It is approximately 17 µg/m³ above background and 11 µg/m³ above bus station concentrations and 8 µg/m³ above the Coldharbour Lane monitoring station that is situated on the ring road. Particulate matter concentrations are more reliable, falling within the range of both Coldharbour Lane reference station and the Zephyr monitoring stations.
Now, next
Over the next decade, changes in the emission profile of many sources contributing to air quality on each campus will help us meet our Clean Air Zone ambition.
The increased penetration of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and reduction in petrol and diesel vehicles, improvements in the emission characteristics of buses, the changing fuel mix in power generation – together, these factors will have a positive impact on reducing local and background air pollution.
However, the type of pollutants we are concerned about may change – with more emphasis on even finer particles from road, tyre, and brake wear. And, as average temperature rises over the next decade, we’ll see changes in the reaction behaviour of pollutants driven by photochemistry.
One thing is certain: As we move through this decade, we’ll need to pay much more attention to ozone concentrations and other photochemical reaction products.
Can young people drive the reduction in carbon emissions? Yes they can!
Summit organised by UWE Bristol sees pupils discuss carbon emission reduction plans.
Can young people drive the reduction in carbon emissions? YEESS they can
Summit organised by UWE Bristol sees pupils discuss carbon emission reduction plans.
Can young people drive the reduction in carbon emissions? YEESS they can
Summit organised by UWE Bristol sees pupils discuss carbon emission reduction plans.